ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Defence
IAF airlifting oxygen containers, essential medicines & other medical equipment in fight against fresh surge in COVID-19 cases
Indian Air Force  has swung into action by carrying out sorties from various parts of the country to airlift oxygen containers, cylinders, essential medicines, equipment required for setting up and sustaining COVID hospitals and facilities in the fight against fresh surge in COVID-19 cases. The IAF Transport aircraft and helicopters have been pressed into service for carrying out these tasks. These include transport aircraft C-17, C-130J, IL-76, An-32 and Avro. Chinook and Mi-17 helicopters are on standby. Tasks undertaken include airlift of doctors and nursing staff from Kochi, Mumbai, Vizag and Bangalore for various hospitals at Delhi.
The C-17 and IL-76 aircraft of IAF have started airlifting big empty oxygen tankers from their place of use to the filling stations across the country to speed up the distribution of much needed oxygen. In addition to this, the C-17 and IL-76 have transported large quantity of load comprising bio safety cabinets and autoclave machines for setting up of an additional COVID test facility at Leh. The IAF transport and helicopter assets are on standby to be deployed at short notice.
It may be recalled that in the initial days of COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, the IAF ran several sorties to deliver medicines, medical and other essential supplies required to combat the coronavirus pandemic as well as brought back stranded Indian nationals from abroad.
ABB/KA/DK/Savvy/ADA/Rajib
(Visitor Counter : 838
Prime Minister's Office
PM greets engineers on Engineers' Day
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted engineers on Engineers' Day . "Greetings to all Engineers on Engineers Day. We remember Sir M. Visvesvaraya on his Jayanti. India is proud of the contribution of our engineers towards nation building”, the Prime Minister said.
Ministry of Steel
Rashtriya Ispat Nigam bags ‘RAJBHASHA KEERTHI PURASKAR’-Awards
Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd. - Vishakhapatnam Steel plant , under Ministry of Steel is bestowed with ‘Rajbhasha Keerti Puraskar’-FIRST PRIZE for effective implementation of Official Language Hindi for the year 2020-21. Shri DK Mohanty, D & D  Addl. Charge, RINL, received the award from Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Nityanand Rai on the occasion of National Hindi Day Celebrations in New Delhi.
TOLIC - Undertaking, Visakhapatnam under the aegis of RINL also bagged ‘Rajbhasha Keerthi Puraskar’ – First Prize for the year 2020-21.
The award was received by Shri DK Mohanty, Chairman, TOLIC  and D & D Addl Charge, RINL from Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Nishit Pramanik. Hindi Diwas Samaroh was presided over by the Union Minister of Home Affairs and Co-operation Minister Shri Amit Shah.
RINL-VSP has also received ‘Rajbhasha Keerthi Puraskar – First Prize’ for effective implementation of Hindi for the year 2019-20. Shri G Gandhi, Chief General Manager  & Admn., RINL received the award.
‘Sugandh’, the In-house Magazine of RINL-VSP bagged ‘Rajbhasha Keerthi Puraskar – First Prize’ for the year 2018-19. Shri Lalan Kumar, GM  & Admn. Incharge, RINL and Member Secretary, TOLIC , Visakhapatnam was recipient of this award. He also received a Certificate of Recognition.
On this occasion, Shri Atul Bhatt, CMD, RINL congratulated RINL.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
India’s Cumulative COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage exceeds 187.67 Cr
Over 2.65Cr 1st dose vaccines administered for age group 12-14 years
India's Active caseload currently stands at15,873
2,593 new cases reported in the last 24 hours
Recovery Rate currently stands at 98.75%
Weekly Positivity Rate is presently at 0.54%
India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 187.67 Cr  as per provisional reports till 7 am today. This has been achieved through 2,30,29,745sessions.
COVID-19 vaccination for the age group 12-14 years was started on 16 March, 2022. So far, more than 2.65 Cr  adolescents have been administered with the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Similarly, the COVID-19 precaution dose administration for age group 18-59 years also started from 10th April, 2022 onwards. 3,87,719precaution doses have been administered in age group 18-59 years so far.
The break-up of the cumulative figure as per the provisional report till 7 am today include:
|
|
Cumulative Vaccine Dose Coverage
|
|
HCWs
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
10404725
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
10012053
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
4694892
|
|
FLWs
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
18414942
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
17532038
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
7340412
|
|
Age Group 12-14 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
26575579
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
2932476
|
|
Age Group 15-18 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
58140660
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
41345317
|
|
Age Group 18-44 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
555482878
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
475434938
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
84549
|
|
Age Group 45-59 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
202883319
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
187363960
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
303170
|
|
Over 60 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
126838741
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
116719403
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
14216266
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
2,66,39,289
|
|
Total
|
|
1,87,67,20,318
India’s Active Caseload currently stands at 15,873.Active cases now constitute 0.04% of the country's total Positive Cases.
Consequently, India’s recovery rate stands at 98.75%. 1,755patients have recovered in the last 24 hours and the cumulative tally of recovered patients  is now at 4,25,19,479.
2,593new cases were reported in the last 24 hours.
The last 24 hours saw a total of 4,36,532COVID-19tests being conducted. India has so far conducted over 83.47Cr  cumulative tests.
Weekly Positivity Rate in the country currently stands at 0.54% and the Daily Positivity rate is also reported to be 0.59%.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Shri Nitin Gadkari approves Draft GSR Notification to introduce Bharat NCAP 
Union minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari has approved the Draft GSR Notification to introduce Bharat NCAP , wherein automobiles in India shall be accorded Star Ratings based upon their performance in Crash Tests.
In a series of tweets he said Bharat-NCAP will serve as a consumer-centric platform allowing customers to opt for safer cars based upon their star-ratings, while promoting a healthy competition among OEMs in India to manufacture safer vehicles.
The Minister said Star Rating of Indian Cars based on Crash Tests is extremely crucial not only to ensure structural and passenger safety in cars, but to also increase the export-worthiness of Indian automobiles. He said the testing protocol of Bharat NCAP shall be aligned with Global Crash Test Protocols factoring in the existing Indian regulations, allowing OEMs to get their vehicles tested at India’s own in-house testing facilities.
Shri Gadkari said Bharat NCAP will prove to be a critical instrument in making our automobile industry Aatmanirbhar with the mission of making India the Number 1 automobile hub in the world.
MJPS
(Visitor Counter : 2462
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
COVID-19 UPDATE
192.28 cr vaccine doses have been administered so far under Nationwide Vaccination Drive
India's Active caseload currently stands at 14,955
Active cases stand at 0.03%
Recovery Rate currently at 98.75%
2,202 recoveries in the last 24 hours increases Total Recoveries to
4,25,97,003
2,226 new cases recorded in the last 24 hours
Daily positivity rate 
Weekly Positivity Rate 
84.67 cr Total Tests conducted so far; 4,42,681 tests conducted in the last 24 hours
Prime Minister's Office
Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks with President of South Africa
The two leaders review bilateral, regional and global issues, including cooperation in BRICS
President Ramaphosa briefs PM on the African Leaders’ Peace Initiative
PM reiterates India’s consistent call for dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward
President Ramaphosa conveys his full support to India’s G20 Presidency
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephone conversation today with His Excellency Mr. Matemela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa.
The two leaders reviewed progress in bilateral cooperation, which is anchored in historic and strong people-to-people ties. Prime Minister thanked the South African President for the relocation of 12 Cheetahs to India earlier this year.
They also exchanged views on a number of regional and global issues of mutual interest, including cooperation in BRICS in the context of South Africa’s chairmanship this year.
President Ramaphosa briefed PM on the African Leaders’ Peace Initiative. Noting that India was supportive of all initiatives aimed at ensuring durable peace and stability in Ukraine, PM reiterated India’s consistent call for dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward.
President Ramaphosa conveyed his full support to India’s initiatives as part of its ongoing G20 Presidency and that he looked forward to his visit to India.
The two leaders agreed to remain in touch.
PIB Headquarters
Gold worth Rs. 58.8 lakhs seized by Customs At Chennai Airport
On Monday night one Sehu Sarabath, 38 of Chennai who arrived from Kuala Lumpur by Batik Airlines Flight No ID 6018, was intercepted at the exit of arrival hall. On his personal search one gold cut bit weighing 64 gms valued at Rs.2.51lakhs was found concealed in his pant pocket. On further questioning he admitted to have concealed 2 bundles of gold paste in rectum. On extraction 625 grams of gold valued at Rs.24.6 lakhs was recovered. Total 689 grams of gold valued at Rs.27 lakhs was recovered and seized under Customs Act 1962. The passenger was arrested.
On Monday based on specific information one Muhammed Irshad, 22, of Malappuram, and Mohammed Musthafa, 26 and Mohammed Unais, 22 both hailing from Kerala who arrived from Sharjah by Air India flight AI 968 were intercepted at exit. On personal search, they were found to have concealment of gold in paste form in their rectum and underwear. On extraction 810 gram of gold valued at Rs.31.8 lakhs was recovered and seized under Customs Act 1962.
Further investigation is in progress, according to a press release issued by Commissioner of Customs, Anna International Airport, Chennai.
Ministry of Home Affairs
NCMC meets for the second time in two days to review flood situation in Kerala
Decides to mobilise unprecedented rescue & relief operations
The National Crisis Management Committee  met for the second time in two days here today to review the rescue & relief operations in the flood affected areas in Kerala. Cabinet Secretary Shri PK Sinha, who chaired the meeting, held a video conference with the Chief Secretaries of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It was decided to mobilise additional resources of all agencies including Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and National Disaster Response Force  to provide the required assistance to Kerala.
Cabinet Secretary directed these organisations to provide boats, helicopters, life jackets, life buoys, raincoats, gumboots, inflatable tower lights etc. Kerala Chief Secretary requested for motorised boats so as to reach people marooned in flood affected areas.
So far, the Centre has mobilised deployment of 339 motorised boats, 2,800 life jackets, 1,400 life buoys, 27 light towers and 1,000 raincoats. Further, 72 motor boats, 5,000 life jackets, 2,000 life buoys, 13 light towers and 1,000 raincoats are being deployed. 1,00,000 food packets have been distributed and arrangements are being made to supply another 1,00,000 food packets. Provision has been made for supply of milk powder as well.
Indian Navy has deployed 51 boats along with diving teams, 1,000 life jackets and 1,300 gumboots are being rushed to Kerala today. It flew 16 sorties in 48 hours in rescue operations. It will airdrop 1,600 food packets today.
Coast Guard has deployed 30 boats along with rescue teams, 300 life jackets, seven life rafts and 144 life buoys.
The IAF deployed 23 helicopters and 11 transport aircraft. Some of the aircraft are being flown in from Yelahanka and Nagpur.
Army pressed into service 10 columns, 10 Engineering Task Forces , 60 boats and 100 life jackets.
NDRF has mobilised 43 rescue teams and 163 boats along with other equipment.
Cabinet Secretary directed these organisations to mobilise additional boats and equipment including from CAPFs such as CRPF, BSF and SSB.
Railways has provided 1,20,000 water bottles. Another 1,20,000 bottles are ready to be despatched. It is also running a special train carrying 2.9 lakh litres of drinking water that will reach Kayakulam tomorrow.
Use of Naval airstrip at Kochi for use by civilian airlines has been offered to the Kerala Government as the civilian airport remained closed.
Kerala Government has been advised to explore use of V-SAT communication links in areas where telephone connectivity has been disrupted.
Cabinet Secretary also directed that emergency medicines may be put on standby.
The NCMC will meet again tomorrow to review the situation.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
GeM and CCI Sign MoU
GeM CEO, S. Radha Chauhan and CCI Chairperson, A.K. Gupta after signing MoU
Government e Marketplace  and Competition Commission of India  entered into a Memorandum of Understanding on 6th February 2019 to enable a fair and competitive environment in the e-Marketplace. Chairman CCI, A.K. Gupta, CEO GeM, S. Radha Chauhan, Members of CCI, U.C. Nahta and Sangeeta Verma were present on the occasion along with officers of CCI and GeM.
Both CCI and GeM appreciate the importance of advanced analytical tools and processes for identification of malpractices like cartelization. In order to pool their knowledge of the public procurement domain for detection of Anti-competitive practices the MoU has been signed.
GeM is a state-of-the-art national public procurement platform of Ministry of Commerce and Industries, that has used technology to remove entry barriers for bonafide sellers and has created a vibrant e-marketplace with a wide range of goods and services.
Competition Commission of India is a statutory body of the Government of India, responsible for enforcing the Competition Act, 2002 throughout India and to prevent activities that have an adverse effect on competition.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Make In India
Recently, Government has taken various steps in addition to ongoing schemes to boost domestic investments in India. These include the National Infrastructure Pipeline, Reduction in Corporate Tax, easing liquidity problems of NBFCs and Banks, various policy measures to boost domestic manufacturing. Government of India has also promoted domestic manufacturing of goods through public procurement orders, Phased Manufacturing Programme , Schemes for Production Linked Incentives of various Ministries.
Further, with a view to support, facilitate and provide investor friendly ecosystem to investors investing in India, the Union Cabinet on 03rd June, 2020 has approved constitution of Empowered Group of Secretaries  for Investment chaired by Cabinet Secretary with CEO, NitiAayog, Secretary, D/o Commerce, Secretary, D/o Revenue, Secretary, D/o Economic Affairs and Secretary DPIIT as Members with following main objective:
- To bring synergies and ensure timely clearances from different departments and Ministries.
- To attract increased investments into India and provide investment support and facilitation to global investors.
- To facilitate investments of top investors in a targeted manner and to usher policy stability and consistency in the overall investment environment.
Union Cabinet also approved constitution of Project Development Cells  in all concerned Ministries/ Departments to fast-track investments in coordination between the Central Govt. and State Govt. and thereby grows the pipeline of investible projects in India and in turn increases domestic investments and FDI inflow. PDCs have the following main objectives.
- To create projects with all approvals, land available for allocation and with the complete detailed project reports for adoption/ investments by investors.
- To identify issues that need to be resolved in order to attract and finalize the investments and put forth these before the Empowered Group.
This information was given by the UnionMinister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Cooperation
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah said that following the mantra of 'Sahakar Se Samriddhi' Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is determined to raise the standard of living of crores of people through cooperatives
The unprecedented decisions taken in the budget today to strengthen the cooperative sector are a symbol of this determination
With the plan of setting up the world's largest decentralized storage capacity, farmers associated with cooperative societies will be able to get the fair price for their produce by selling it at appropriate time, this will play an important role in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resolve to increase the income of the farmers
Government will also establish the new multipurpose cooperative societies, primary fisheries societies and dairy cooperative societies in every panchayat in the next 5 years
Sugar cooperatives have been given the facility to show the payments made to farmers before 2016-17 in their expenses, with this cooperative sugar mills will get a relief of about Rs 10,000 crore
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah said that following the mantra of 'Sahakar Se Samriddhi' Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is determined to raise the standard of living of crores of people through cooperatives.
In his tweets, Shri Amit Shah said that the unprecedented decisions taken in the budget today to strengthen the cooperative sector are a symbol of this determination. With the plan of setting up the world's largest decentralized storage capacity, farmers associated with cooperative societies will be able to get the fair price for their produce by selling it at appropriate time. This will play an important role in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resolve to increase the income of the farmers.
The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that in the next 5 years, the government will also establish new multipurpose cooperative societies, primary fisheries societies and dairy cooperative societies in every panchayat. This will give a new direction and speed to the cooperative movement, which will make this sector more empowered.
Shri Amit Shah also expressed his gratitude to Shri Modi for keeping the cooperative societies of manufacturing sector formed till March 31, 2024 in the 15% tax net only. The decision to cap TDS on cash withdrawal at Rs 3 crore and making the limit upto Rs 2 lakh per member for cash deposits and loans for Primary Agriculture Credit Society  and Primary Cooperative Agricultural and Rural Development Banks  is laudable.
The Union Cooperation Minister also added that he welcomes another important decision taken for the cooperative sector, in which sugar cooperatives have been given the facility to show the payments made to farmers before 2016-17 in their expenditure. Cooperative sugar mills will get a relief of Rs 10,000 crore.
Ministry of Development of North-East Region
Infrastructure projects in Assam
The total length of National Highways in the state of Assam in 2013 was 2771 km and in July, 2023, it is 3651 km. The total length of railway in Assam as on 31.03.2013 was 2459 km and as on 31.03.2023, it is 2571 km. The total number of airports in Assam was 07 in 2013 and in 2023 also.
The details of funds allocated for highway projects and development of airport infrastructure in the State of Assam since 2014-15 is as under:

|
|
Sl No.
|
|
Year
|
|
Highway projects
|
|
Dev. of airport infrastructure

|
|
1
|
|
2014-15
|
|
3268.37
|
|
30.55
|
|
2
|
|
2015-16
|
|
4374.31
|
|
14.72
|
|
3
|
|
2016-17
|
|
4334.72
|
|
0.00
|
|
4
|
|
2017-18
|
|
4727.13
|
|
11.50
|
|
5
|
|
2018-19
|
|
6732.87
|
|
72.35
|
|
6
|
|
2019-20
|
|
5527.84
|
|
114.69
|
|
7
|
|
2020-21
|
|
9442.23
|
|
16.48
|
|
8
|
|
2021-22
|
|
11991.82
|
|
5.98
|
|
9
|
|
2022-23
|
|
13300.83
|
|
43.87
|
|
Total
|
|
63700.12
|
|
310.14
As on 01.04.2023, 19 Railway infrastructure projects  covering total length of 1,909 km at a cost of Rs. 81,941 crore, falling fully/ partly in North Eastern Region including Assam are in different stages of planning/ approval/ execution, out of which 482 km length have been commissioned and an expenditure of Rs. 37,713 crore has been incurred upto March, 2023.
The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region supports the visits to NER of all the Union Ministers through a program “Fortnightly visits of Union Ministers to NER” which was started in 2015. Prime Minister and Union Ministers visited the North East Region 595 times between January, 2015 and June, 2023.
This information was given by Union Minister for Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region Shri G. Kishan Reddy in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
Prime Minister's Office
PM congratulates Satwik Sairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty for clinching Gold Medal in Men's Doubles Badminton
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Satwik Sairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty for winning Gold Medal in Men's Doubles Badminton at Birmingham CWG 2022.
The Prime Minister tweeted;
"India's Badminton contingent has redefined success and excellence. Superb display of teamwork and skills by @satwiksairaj and @Shettychirag04. Proud of them for bringing home the Gold medal. May they keep winning more laurels for India in the times to come. #Cheer4India"
Prime Minister's Office
PM lauds the achievement of 11 Crore Tap water connections under Jal Jeevan Mission
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has praised achievement of 11 Crore Tap water connections under Jal Jeevan Mission. Shri Modi also congratulated to all those who have benefitted from this initiative and compliments to those working on the ground to make this Mission a success.
In response to a tweet by Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the Prime Minister tweeted;
“A great feat, indicative of the ground covered to ensure ‘Har Ghar Jal’ to the people of India. Congratulations to all those who have benefitted from this initiative and compliments to those working on the ground to make this Mission a success.”
Ministry of Defence
MOU BETWEEN INDIAN NAVY AND SPACE APPLICATIONS CENTRE  FOR COOPERATION ON SATELLITE BASED NAVAL APPLICATIONS IN OCEANOLOGY AND METEOROLOGY
Indian Navy on 05 Aug 22 signed a MoU with the Space Applications Centre , Ahmedabad on data sharing and cooperation on Satellite based Naval Applications in Oceanology and Meteorology.
With this initiative, both the organisations will have a common platform of mutual cooperation, wherein the scientific advancements by SAC would be synergised into the Indian Naval efforts to keep the nation's defence in step with rapid development in the field of Satellite Data retrieval and applications. This MoU is an extension of previous MoU signed in 2017 and will further the collaboration between two organisations.
The broad area of cooperation includes sharing of non-confidential observational data, operation exploitation of SAC generated weather products and provisioning of Subject Matter Experts  towards processing of satellite data towards development of new tools, calibration and validation of ocean models.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by SAC and Indian Navy to further meaningful interactions and professional exchanges in future.